An apse is a semicircular, polygonal or occasionally rectangular projection at the east end of a church or basilica, typically housing the altar and forming the focal point of the interior.
The apse is one of the oldest and most enduring elements in Western religious architecture, present from the earliest Roman basilicas through to modern church designs.
Origins
The apse originated in Roman secular architecture. In a Roman basilica — a public hall used for law courts and commerce — the apse was a raised, vaulted recess at one or both ends where the magistrate sat. When early Christians adopted the basilica form for their places of worship in the 4th century, the apse naturally became the location for the altar and the bishop’s seat (cathedra).
Architectural features
A typical apse includes several distinctive elements:
- Curved or polygonal wall — the plan may be a true semicircle (common in Romanesque architecture) or a multisided polygon (common in Gothic architecture).
- Semi-dome or rib vault — the apse is usually covered by a half-dome (also called a conch or cul-de-four vault). In Gothic buildings, the vault may be constructed with ribs.
- Windows — apse walls often contain tall windows that flood the altar area with light. In Romanesque buildings these are small, round-arched openings; in Gothic buildings they are large, pointed lancets or tracery windows, sometimes filled with stained glass.
- Mosaic or fresco decoration — the concave surface of the semi-dome is an ideal canvas for large-scale figurative art. Byzantine and Romanesque churches frequently feature a monumental image of Christ, the Virgin Mary or saints in the apse vault.
Variations
- Triple apse — a main apse flanked by two smaller apsidioles, common in Romanesque churches.
- Flat east end — some traditions, notably English Gothic and Cistercian architecture, replaced the curved apse with a flat wall.
- Westwork apse — a secondary apse at the west end, found in some Carolingian and Ottonian churches in Germany.
Related terms
- Apsidiole
- Ambulatory
- Chancel
- Semi-dome